Trunk



(No Model.)

I. G. RICHARDSON.

TRUNK.

No. 397,938AVI Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

. o 1 v l einen.

INGRAHAM G. RICHARDSON, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,938, dated February 19, 1889. Application filed september s, 188s. sean No. 284,458. No man.)

T0 all 1071/0712 t 17mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, INGRAHAM G. Rien- ARDSON, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Trunks, of which Y of heilig used as a writing-desk or secretary.

The invention consists, generally, in the construction and combination hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, lfigure l a perspeetivel view of my improved trunk, the parts being in position to adapt it for use as a writing-desk. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are details 'showing the device for holding the lid or cover in an elevated position when desired.

In the drawings, i' represents the body, and i the cover or lid, of my improved trunk. These parts may be of any ordinary or preferred construction, and the body of the trunk may be provided with any suitable arrangementl of trays or compartments to suit the convenience or taste of the user. The lid or cover is connected to the body of the trunk by suitable hinges arranged at the end of the trunk. The lid of the trunk is ar ranged with a hinged leaf or plate, 5, preferably connected to the lid at a point nearly midway of its length, as shown in Fig. 1. lVhen the lid of the trunk is in an upright position, the leal 5 may be turned down to a horizmital position, as shown in Fig. 1. The outer end of the leaf is provided with a support, which rests upon rails 25 at the top of the body of the trunk and holds the leaf in a substantially horizontal position. This support preferably consists of a rod or wire, 7, bent into a U shape and having the ends of its legs pivoted to the under side of the leaf The leaf 5, it will be seen, is adapted to be folded up against the under side of the cover of the trunk, where it forms a lid for the receptacles or compartments formed therein. Vhen it is in this position, as shown in Fig. 2, the U-shaped support 7 lies against the under side of the leaf 5. For the purpose of securing the leaf in this position, I use a suitable fastening, con'sisting, preferably, of a sliding bolt, 9, which is adapted to engage a staple, 11, arranged at the upper end of .the lid 3. The lower end of the bolt 9 is also preferably provided with a hook, 13, which catches over the bottom of the U-shaped support 7 and holds it against the under side of the lid 5, as shown in Fig. I also prefer to provide an auxiliary leaf, 15, hinged to one edge of the leaf 5 and adapted to be turned outward to form a continuation of the writing-table, as shown in Fig. 1. Theouter edge of the auxiliary leaf 15 is preferably supported by a cord, 17, which has its Opposite end secured tothe inside of thelid 3 at a point near its upper end.

The space within the lid 3 may be divided into any suitable number of compartments of any suitable size and form. I have shown that part of the lid which is above the leaf 5 when open as provided with a drawer, 19, and with pigeon-holes 21 and larger compartments, 23, and this arrangement I have found convenient, as the drawer 19 and the pigeonholes 21 form convenient receptacles for articles of stationery, while the compartments 23 form convenient receptacles for other articles.

In order to form a seat for the person using the writing-desk, I prefer to provide the longitudinal rails 25 upon the inside of the body of the trunk near the upper edge thereof. Upon these rails is arranged a sliding seat,27, which may be brought to a convenient position for 'the use of the person sitting at the writing-desk. IVhen the truuk is to be closed, this seat is preferably moved to `the opposite end of the truuk.

In order to hold thelid 3 in a perpendicular position while the trunk is being used as a writin g-desk, I provide the brace-rod 31, which has one end pivoted to the lid 3 and its other end pivoted to a sliding block or traveler,

The block 33 is arranged to slide in a runway or guide, 35, secured at a point near the upper IOO edge of the body of the trunk. At one end of this runwayis formed a slot, through which the bleek 33 may drop when the lid 3 is turned into a vertical position. The bleek 233 then rests upon a block, 39, arranged beneath the slot and the runway 135, and the end of the block striking against the end of the slot formsa lock fm holding` the lid il in an upright position.

lt will be seen that as the leaf is looked in its upright position by the bolt 9 and the support or leg 7 is also locked against the under side of the leaf by the same bolt, and as one movement of the bolt looks both parts and one movement of the bolt releases both, it is only necessary when it is desired to use the Writing-desk to give a slight movement to the bolt 9, when the leaf 5 will drop forward to the position shown in Fig. l, and at the same time the support 7 will drop forward into the vertieal position, resting upon the rails and holding the lid in ahorizontal position.

Frein the foregoing detail description the manner of 4using my improved trunk will be obvious, and it will be seen that the details of the eonstruiition maybe varied in n'lanyways Y Without departing from my invention.

I claim as my inventionl. The Combined trunk and writing-desk eomprising, in combination, the body 2, the lid 3, hinged to the end thereof, the leaf 5, hinged to the under side of said lid and provided with a suitable support adapted to hold it in a horizontal position, the auxiliary leaf l5, hinged to the side of the leaf 5 and adapted to be turned over upon said leaf when the lid is in an upright position, the drawer '1.9, and the compartments 2l and 23, arranged in the lid 3 above the leaf 5, all sub stantially as described.

The combined trunk and writing-desk. Comprising, in Combination, the body 2, the lid hinged tothe end thereof and provided with the folding leaf 5, and the auxiliary leaf l5, hinged to the edge of the leaf 5 and adapted to fold over upon said leaf, and the sliding seat 27, arranged upon the body 2, substantially as described.

In a Combined trunk and writilig-desk, the lid 3, the leaf 5, hinged thereto, the U- shaped support 7, pivoted to the under side of said leaf, and the sliding bolt 9, provided with a hook, 13, adapted to engage the support T, for the purpose speeiied.

l. In a combined trunk and Writing-desk, the combination, with the lid 3, having the folding leaf 5, of the braeerod 3l, pivoted to said lid and having its opposite end pivoted to the sliding bleek 33, and the runway 35, having a slot in the bottom thereof, for' the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of August, 1888.

INGRAHAM G. RICHARDSON. ln presence of-` A. C. PAUL, A. M.. GASKTLL. 

